During his long tenure at the university of Paris, John of Garland, one of the most prolific writers of the 13th century wrote, in addition to more ambitious literary works, several didactic texts on grammar, rhetoric, and theology. With didactic brevity his Misteria Ecclesie focus on the symbolism of the church-buildings, the ecclesiastical order of the clergy, the vestments, (the prayers said at) the canonical hours, the liturgical year, mass, and the eucharist. As the source, a prose-treatise by Ps.- Hugo of St. Victor could be identified.
For the edition, 30 manuscripts (13-15th centuries) from England, France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Italy were used. A German translation and extensive quotations from Ps.-Hugo have been added (Ms Brugge 147, ca. 1200 AD). The edition is augmented by a commentary and indices by Peter Dinter.